Positive buoyancy prime mover



July 13, 1965 E. BAUMGARTNER POSITIVE BUOYANCY PRIME MOVER 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 8, 1965 A in FIG. 3

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July 13, 1965 E. BAUMGARTNER POSITIVE BUOYANCY PRIME MOVER 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 8, 1963 FIG. 4

INVENTOR.

EMIL BAUMGARTNER ATTORNEY July 13 1955 E. BAUMGARTNER 3,194,008

POSITIVE BUOYANCY PRIME MOVER Filed April 8, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG.7 jj@ 14a a y I im. I l Jg mun@ I Igi- 144 M l A j# I|l f- INVENTOR.

EMIL BAUMGARTNER ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,194,008 PQSITIVEBUOYANCY PRIME MOVER Emil Baumgartner, 125 Woodfieid Road, WestHempstead, NY. Filed Apr. 8, 1963, Ser. No. 271,345 3 Ciaims. (Cl.6ft-ZZ) This invention relates to prime movers and particularly to suchdevices deriving their motive power from the positive buoyancy of a bodyimmersed in a fluid medium.

The need has long existed for eiiicient prime movers which are notdependent upon combustible fuels for their operation. Such devices wouldhave wide application in a variety of uses. One well known form of primemover is the water wheel. For eiicient operation, the water wheelrequires a large head of water, and this frequently presents a seriousproblem. Preferably, the water Wheel should be in close proximity to thewater source and, in addition, a constant ow of water must bemaintained.

The present invention derives its power from that inherent property in abody, buoyancy, that permits it to float to the surface of a liquidmedium. Therefore, it may be said that the present invention utilizesthe upward force exerted on an immersed body by the supporting fluidmedium. This upward force, independent of the weight of the immersedbody and dependent upon the volume of fluid displaced by the body, isconverted to a rotary motion by the structure of the present inventionwhereby it may be utilized by a variety of devices coupled thereto.

A feature of this invention is that -it converts the buoyant property ofa body submerged in fluid to usable power.

Another feature is that the fluid may be an inexpensive one such aswater.

An additional feature is that the present invention merely requires aninitial input of compressed gas, such as air, and conventional means toseal the container to prevent fluid and gas leaks.

Still another feature of the invention is that it is basically rugged`and capable of operation with a minimum of maintenance.

A further feature of the present invention is the provision of apositive buoyancy prime mover whose rotational speed is self-regulating.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of speed regulatingmeans.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will,in part, be pointed out with particularity and will, in part, becomeapparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with thedrawing appended hereto.

In the various figures of the drawing like reference charactersdesignate like parts.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1A schematically illustrates the operating principles of thepresent invention.

FIG. 1B schematically illustrates the self-regulating principles of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevational side view in sect-ion of one embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates an arrangement of a plurality of devices constructedin accordance with the features of FIG. 2. i

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 and illustrates an alternativearrangement.

FIG. 6 is another view similar to FIG. 4 and illustrates still anotheralternative arrangement.

ICC

FIG. 7 is a side elevational View of the embodiment of FIG. 6.

Referring now to FIGS. 1A and 1B, there is shown the present inventionin schematic form. As is well known, positive buoyancy exists when theweight of a body submerged in a uid is less than the weight of thevolume of fluid displaced by the body. For purposes of illustration, aseries of hollow float members 12a-12L are linked to a common axle 14 bymeans of rigid spokes 16. submerged in a fluid 18, such as water. Sincebuoyancy is a function of the weight of the uid displaced, it isenvisioned within the scope of the present invention to use fluids otherthan water. The greater the fluid density, Y

the greater will be the power output. It will be seen then that mercurywith a density of 13.60 gm./cm.3

(848.64 lbs./ft.3), as opposed to water having a density of 1.00gm./cm.3 (62.4 lbs./ft.3), will -be even more effective. Oother iluids,such as chloroform (density 1.53), glycerine (density 1.26), withdensities in between the two extremes of water and mercury, mayksatisfactorily be used. It is presently contemplated to use chloroform,because of its volatility, in only small sealed instruments.

Floats 12a-12e in quadrants III and IV will, because of their buoyantproperty, tend to float upwardly to the top -of the fluid medium. Sincethe floats are rigidly secured to axle 14 by means of radial spokes 16,t-he axle Vwill be rotated clockwise, as shown by the -arrow in FIG. 1A.Rotation of the axle will cause rigidly secured iioats 12g-12k inquadrants I and II to move clockwise. Floats 12g-12k pass through aplenum formed by shroud 20 which,` for purposes of explanation, is to beaccepted as being maintained uid-free by having compressed air pumpedinto it through conduit 22. An externally located compressor suppliesconduit 22 through a constant pressure control valve. -From theforegoing'description, it is seen that successive oats are passed fromthe fluid-free air lock, wherein there are no upward buoyant forcesexerted, into the fluid medium wherein the buoyant forces set upclockwise moments about a central axis.

A practical embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.`The apparatus is contained within housing 30 having -a removable cover32 aixed thereto by means of fasteners 34. The housing and cover areprovided with flanges 30a and 32a, respectively, between which ispositioned a gasket 36 for the purpose of sealing the interior of thehousing which is partially filled with liquid 38. Transverse shaft 40 isrotatably journaled in bearings 42 `affixed to the side walls of housing30 and has rigidly secured thereto a pair of spaced support members 44.Equally spaced support rollers 46a, 46h and 46c are rotatably journaledat their end portions in support members d4 and frictionally engage theinner diameter of a hollow buoyancy ring 50.

Ring 50 is circular in shape and hollow in cross section. As will beexplained hereinafter, the side walls and inner and vouter diameterfaces may be relatively thin. Compartments 52 are formed inside and areinterconnected by means of small apertures 54 in radial walls 56. Aspreviously stated, buoyancy is independent of the weight of the immersedbody but dependent upon the volume of displaced uid. Therefore, ring 50could conceivably be made of almost any formable material, the primelimitations being the environment in which it is disposed. However, inorder to minimize the inertial properties the buoyancy would have toovercome, the embodiments herein illustrated show a relatively thinwalled hollow wheel. Valve means 58 is provided flush with the side wallso that the compartments may be filled with a gals. This will preventthe walls from collapsing and permit the Approximately three-quarters ofthe apparatus is ring to withstand the pressures external theretoattendant.

with submersion inthe liquid medium.

As ring S rotates about support rollers 46a, 46b vand Y' 46c, Ait willfrictionallyvdrive Vthe'rollers.l To-facilitate this action and also toguide the ringV in a true path, the rollers are providedwith flanges 60which straddlek the inner and outer ring Walls. It should befunderstoodthat separate rollers having integral ypulleys free to-rotate oni Ytransverse shaft 4tlintermediate members 44, transfer the rotation ofthering to the shaft by means of an endless belt dptrainediabout all threepulleys. -V Y Y l Closely spaced about ring Si? is a plenum in the formof shroud 70 which is substantially semicircular in .shape Vand conformsclosely incross section to the cross sectionalconguration of ring 50(FIG. 3). YThe shroud isrsecured'to stepped down portions 44a of supportmembers 44 as yby welding. Conduit '72, communicating with the interiorportion ,of shroud 79, maintains a supply of air in theshroud from anexternally located compressorr l 3,194,0oe

` Referring now to FIG. 1B wherein schematically Vshown shroud Ztl(comparable to'shroud70 ofY FIG. 2 and FIG. 3) is angularly displaced`corresponding to the action occurring Whenfloat members 12 (comparableto ring r50 of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3)V are rotated at greater than thedesired speed, it willfbe noted that a float in quadrant II will exhibitpositive buoyancy in a counterclockwise direction. This will, ineffect,V work oppositely to the buoyant force of the remainder' of theimmersed floats and therefore cause the ring and .hence the output shaftand governorV4 to slow down to the desired speed. YThe desired 74 theoutput of which isregulated by a constant pressure valve '76. As afurther 'safeguard against admission of fluid into, theplenum,V sealingmember 7'7 yis provided Y about the immersed, open end of shroud 70.This does not impede the rotation of ring Sil. It may be seen thenV thatthe air pressure Within the shroud may readilybe maintained at asubstantially higher level thanthe uid pressurerwithin the housing.Thusthe portion of the ring within the air lock is noty subject to abuoyant motion. The portion of the ring'outside the air lock issubmerged in the fluid medium andV exhibits buoyant characteristicscausing each point on the ring to float upwardlyV thus turning the ringclockwise (FIG. 2.) Within the plenum and also about frictionally`engaged rollers '46a and 46b. By varying the air pressure, fluid mayVbe. introducedY into or displaced from the shroud and the-speed of therotation may be varied. Y

Ring 50 is Well supported and` runs concentrically with and in the sameplane as shroud 70 by virture of the three-point suspension providedbypequally spacedrollens 46a, 46b, which were previously described, inVcombination with Vroller 46c rotatably journaled in'an` enlargedlocalized portion 7 8 of shroud 7 0; i

The transverse shaft which is rotated by the drive sys; l tem comprisedof ring 50, rollers46a and 46h together'4 with belt 66, is provided witha gear 'train 850 comprising gearZ pinned to shaft fill-to rotatetherewith and mating gearV 34 fixed to output shaft'86. VThus thebuoyancyV motion of ring 5d `may be converted into aimechanical output.While theoutput motion is shown ,to be rotary, Y it is possible by theinclusion of suitable gearing, such as a rack and pinion arrangement, toproduce a reciprocal linear motion, intermittent linear motion as wellas oscillatory motion both' linear and angular.

To control the rate of output, a conventionalifly wheel governor 9i) issecured to output shaft 86. Upon an in. crea-se in output Shaft speed,fly wheelballs 92 adjustably secured to pivoted arms 94 are thrownoutwardly bycentrifugal force. This Vaction causes hinged arms 96 toslide upwardly on -shaft 86and carry with it yoke member 98.

The opposite endof yoke 98 is secured to aV rack V100V which is guidedina vertical path byguide lmembers 102, slidably positioned in ways 104of rack 100. Guide niembers Vltlzare part ofl bracket 106 which is fixedto housing 30, asshown in FIG. 2. Rackltlt) meshes .with gear segment.10,8n which is secured to the peripheral, outside: face of shroud '70..Any movement of the rack as caused by either anY increase ,or decreasein the speed of output shaft 86 will lcause an angular displacement ofYshroud 70. Since support'members 44 are secured to shroud 70 at steppeddown portions 44a, a displacement of .the'shroud will cause acomparabledisplacement of supportrrollers 46514i6b and 46cthus maintaining equallyspaced three speed controlr'nay be obtainedfbyproperly -setting thegovernor inaccordance Withusual practice. A decrease in speed will causean equal ybut opposite reaction and will be similarly self-regulating. 1f

Referring once again'toFIGfZQoutput shaft 86 is journaled in couplingmember 110 fixed in cover member 32. Coaxial drive shaft 86a isalsojournaled in member 110 which is preferably-a fluid couplingcapable ofsealing and preserving theV internal pressure of the apparatus. .Thusshaft 8de, directly coupled to and governedby the rotational speed ofring.5,.may be employed to drive a utilization device. Alternatively,'autilization device such as Vva generator 112 may be positioned insidethe housing and Y either Athe housing or cover walls, suitable sealingmeans areV provided so thatinternal pressures, particularly'in the airlock, arefrnaint'ained. Conventional reversing mechanisms, illustratedschematically at1122, may be employed in conjunction with drive shaft86a so that the output may be either elockwisefor counterclockwise Y.andmaybe changed from oneto the other according to speciiic applications. YY

. FIG.Y4,Y5,' 6 and7 disclose further applications of the vpresentinvention. It should be understood that the operating principles are4the' same asy described heretofore and for simplicity, certain elementshave beenromitted and theV remainder shown in outline form. ,LikeVreference charactersiare utilizedjto denote similarly functioningpar-ts. f ,y

' In FIG. 4 there is shownaplural-ity of assemblies side by side oncommon `transverse shaft 40. The assemblies 'are Veach comprised ofV aring 50 supported on friction rollens 46 and 4an angularly displaceableshroud 70. SupportV members 44 carrythegassemblies Vas well as geartrainSi). ,A rackddil lis provided as meansvfor speed control. Singleoutput shaft, driven by the gear train will consequently be Vdriven withincreased power. EndlessV belts 66 Ytransmit power from ring Sii totransverse shaft 4t) as` heretofore described. Y

FFIG. y5 illustrates a tandem arrangement whereby each individualassembly lcompri-sed of a ring 50 and a shroud isV provided with. itsown transverse shaftV 40. The several transverse Yshafts are coupled.toeach other by vmeans' lof. a series of pulleys V13) mounted thereon,said pulleys Jbe'ing'interconnected by endless belt 132. 'Asinzgleaoutput shaft (not shown) takes its power from the sum of therotation forces Aof the individual assemblies.

The embodiment of FIG.: 6 andAF-IG. 7 is in effect a i combination VofFIG. 4 and FIG. Sfwherein several assemblies` Vare journaled about 1asingletransverse shaft 4l) )and the. housing 30 isfconstructed so as toaccommodate several transverse shafts 40, yonefbehind the other, saidpropulsiongrneans, such as propellers 144, so that this may be a waterborne vehicle. In this embodiment then,

bulkhead 146 deiines a substantially iiuid filled chamber 148 whichcontains the operating mechanism of the present invention. Compressor Chaving suitable valve con- .trol pressurizes shrouds 70. As in theprevious embodiments, a plurality of rings 50 and shrouds 70 areemployed to drive transverse shafts 40. Similarly, speed control means,comprised of racks 100 and gear segments 108, `are aiixed to shrouds 70.The speed control means are suitably linked to each -other and have asingle control such as wheel `150 which moves the racks up and downthrough lead screw `152. With this arrangement, even if body 30' is a-tIan angle with respect to the horizon, the shroud-s may be adjusted for4optimum performance.

The description lset forth hereinabove illustrates the basic operatingprinciples as well as several practical embodiments of the presentinvention. It will be seen that the :appara-tus lis relatively simple toconstruct, operate and maintain. Means have been provided for easyadjustment which assures a `steady predictable output. A range of poweroutput -may be obtained by a suitable choice of iiuid medium-s, as wellas determination of the most Iadvantageous size of components, theselection of which is dependent on the application.

There has been disclosed heretofore the best embodiment of the inventionpresently contemplated and it 'is to be understood that various changesand modifications may be made by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l1. A prime mover comprising:

(A) a body of liquid;

(B) la buoyant ring member comprising :a plurality of individualcompartments sealed from the surrounding environment and having adensity less than said liquid whereby the upward dot-ation of saidchambers will cause said ring member to rotate about a substantiallyhorizontal axis;

(la) said ring member being at least partially submerged in said liquid;

(C) speed control means comprising an angularly adjustable plenumchamber containing a gas, said chamber enveloping a portion of said ringextending -from the surface of said liquid to the lowermost portionthereof and maintained iixed relative -to said ring during constantspeed rotation of said ring,

(a) said ych-amber being at least partially submerged in said liquid;and

`(D) output means coupled Ito said ring member whereby, upon rota-tionof said ring member, a power output is obtained.

2. The apparatus of claim -1 including speed governing means coupled tosaid output means, said speed igoverning means being adapted toangularly adjust said plenum chamber with respect to said ring.

v3. The apparatus of claim 1 including means to maintain the -gaspressure within said plenum chamber at a constant level.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,996,886 4/ 35Schwarzmayr 253-20 2,03 7,973 4/ 3 6 Gronda'hl 60-22 FOREIGN PATENTS562,83 3 1'2/57 Belgium. 739,663 11/ 32 France.

JULIUS E. WEST, Primary Examiner.

1. A PRIME MOVER COMPRISING: (A) A BODY OF LIQUID; (B) A BUOYANT RINGMEMBER COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL COMPARTMENTS SEALED FROM THESURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT AND HAVING A DENSITY LESS THAN SAID LIQUIDWHEREBY THE UPWARD FLOTATION OF SAID CHAMBERS WILL CAUSE SAID RINGMEMBER TO ROTATE ABOUT A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL AXIS; (A) SAID RINGMEMBER BEING AT LEAST PARTIALLY SUBMERGED IN SAID LIQUID; (C) SPEEDCONTROL MEANS COMPRISING AN ANGULARLY ADJUSTABLE PLENUM CHAMBERCONTAINING A GAS, SAID CHAMBER ENVELOPING A PORTION OF SAID RINGEXTENDING FROM THE SURFACE OF SAID LIQUID TO THE LOWERMOST PORTIONTHEREOF AND MAINTAINED FIXED RELATIVE TO SAID RING DURING CONSTANT SPEEDROTATION OF SAID RING, (A) SAID CHAMBER BEING AT LEAST PARTIALLYSUBMERGED IN SAID LIQUID; AND (D) OUTPUT MEANS COUPLED TO SAID RINGMEMBER WHEREBY, UPON ROTATION OF SAID RING MEMBER, A POWER OUTPUT ISOBTAINED.